How To Know If You Have A Cavity
According to the National Institutes of Health, the most prevalent health condition after the common cold is tooth decay.
It’s more than likely that if you haven’t already had a cavity, you will develop at least one in your lifetime.
So, how do you know if you have a cavity? Well, depending on the severity of your tooth decay, you may experience a variety of symptoms. Here are some of the accompanying symptoms that
go along with tooth decay.
• Nothing (in the early stages)
• A toothache or spontaneous tooth pain
• Tooth sensitivity
• Pain (slight or severe) when eating something sweet, hot, or cold
• Staining (brown, black, or white) on the surface of your tooth
• Visible holes in your tooth. Those holes are cavities
• Pain when biting down
The best time to catch a cavity is in the early stages, when there are few, if any, symptoms. Keeping your twice yearly (or more) visits with us will ensure we catch them in time. To schedule an appointment you can call us at (425) 774-5596, email us at leann@nicholemartindmd.com, from our website (click here and then click the “Request and Appointment” button) or through the Patient Connect Portal by clicking here.
We will let you know the best course of treatment for your particular situation. The recommendation could be as easy as watching and waiting to see if we find any tooth decay in the very
early stages.
Or, if you are symptomatic, we may have to formulate a more in-depth treatment plan. Dr. Martin will perform an exam and diagnose what treatment is needed. We will then check with your insurance and give you a cost estimate before moving forward with treatment. In some cases, we may have to refer you to a specialist such as an Endodontist if a root can is needed or an Oral Surgeon if we are looking at an extraction and or implant.
As always, brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once a day, and try to minimize the amount of sugar (including carbs!) in your diet. These steps will help you be proactive in preventing cavities. Even better, your teeth will thank you for it!